What should I look for in a used Audi A4?
Faults with the cooling system and electrics top the list of troubles exposed by the What Car? Reliability Index. Despite its quality image, Audi sits towards the bottom of the index's make-by-make ranking. That said, the A4's above-average ranking in JD Power surveys shows that owners generally like them.
You should worry if gearchanges on the Multitronic automatic gearbox are bumpy, as this system can play up, while air-con systems are vulnerable. The 1.8 turbo petrol has had a history of ignition coil failure, leading to poor starting and misfires. However, by now, most will have had replacements that, touch wood, are pretty reliable.